Camila Bustos

Colombian environmental activist protecting Amazon biodiversity through community-led conservation

Camila Bustos is an award-winning environmental lawyer and activist from Colombia who has spearheaded innovative conservation strategies in the Amazon rainforest. Born in Leticia in 1992, she co-founded Voces de la Amazonía in 2019, an organization that empowers Indigenous communities to monitor illegal logging and mining activities using drone technology. Her work led to the shutdown of 17 illegal gold mining operations in 2021, saving 500km² of pristine rainforest.

Bustos gained international acclaim in 2023 when her documentary film (nominated for an Emmy) exposed the connection between illegal deforestation and global supply chains. This led to major corporations like Unilever and Apple implementing stricter sourcing policies. She developed the Río de la Vida app (available on iOS), which allows real-time reporting of environmental crimes using satellite imagery.

In 2024, she established the Amazon Conservation Leadership Academy, training 300+ young activists annually in legal advocacy and tech-driven conservation. Her TED Talk 'Reimagining Conservation in the Digital Age' has become a cornerstone of modern environmental strategy. She recently collaborated with WWF to create the first Indigenous-led carbon credit program, providing financial incentives for community conservation efforts.